Health professional Lindsay Malone voices apprehension over chemical additives in Jolly Rancher sweets, highlighting potential health risks.
Jolly Rancher candies, a popular treat in the United States, have been recalled from the UK market due to the presence of Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH) and Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons (MOSH), substances not approved for food use in the UK. These hydrocarbons are suspected of posing potential health risks, including possible carcinogenicity and long-term DNA damage.
The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has instructed retailers to remove affected products and consumers not to eat them, citing a precautionary approach common in European food safety regulation. In contrast, Jolly Rancher candies remain on sale in the United States, where the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows mineral oils to be used as processing aids during manufacturing, provided they do not appear in significant quantities in the final product.
The FDA considers propylene glycol, one of the substances in question, safe for food use. Propylene glycol is a food additive commonly used as a sweetener and humectant. Hershey, the manufacturer of Jolly Ranchers, states that these oils help prevent candies from sticking during production and are considered safe under current US food additive regulations.
A registered dietitian and nutrition instructor, Lindsay Malone, has raised concerns about MOAH in Jolly Rancher candies. Malone's concerns focus on the potential health risks associated with the use of MOAH as an additive, particularly in the context of its presence in ultra-processed foods like Jolly Ranchers.
The divergence in policy between the UK and US has sparked renewed debate over food safety standards. Critics in the US argue that the UK/EU model is more protective of consumers, while US regulators and industry emphasize the lack of conclusive evidence of harm from current usage levels.
Despite the ban in the UK, the Hershey Company has not announced any plans to reformulate Jolly Ranchers to comply with the UK's food safety regulations. This could potentially leave the company in a challenging position should it wish to expand its market in the UK in the future.
In summary, the ban on Jolly Ranchers in the UK is due to the candies containing substances not approved for food use in the UK, while in the US, the FDA allows these substances as processing aids. The risk assessment in the UK is precautionary, prioritizing strict limits on substances with suspected but not fully proven health risks, while in the US, regulatory action only occurs after clear evidence of harm.
The discussion on food safety standards has intensified due to the disparity between the EU and US policies, with experts like nutrition instructor Lindsay Malone expressing concerns about the potential health risks associated with the use of substances like Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH) in ultra-processed foods such as Jolly Rancher candies. Meanwhile, the science and health-and-wellness community is closely monitoring the situation, as lifestyle choices involving food-and-drink frequently have significant impacts on nutrition and overall wellness.
